Quantitative Estimation the Threats and Opportunities of Agricultural Water Pricing Reforms of in Iran (Case Study Mashhad- Chenaran)

Scarcity and excessive water use in agricultural sector is one of the most important challenges of planner and policy makers. So that water demand management has been introduced as a new approach and then considered water pricing as one of the most important tools. Using of water policies to water resource management not only impact on water demand¡ but also will have the economic¡ social and conservation effects that should considered. In this paper¡ were investigated the economic¡ social and conservation effects (opportunities and threats) of water pricing reforms policies in case study Mashhad- Chenaran. To achieve this objective¡ first calculate the final price and value of water marginal product to make scenarios of water price. Then¡ using of positive mathematical programming and maximum entropy approach to investigate the economic¡ social and conservation effects of impose designed scenarios in two groups of farmers that theyare low and high water user. The results of this study showed that current price is very lower of final price and value of marginal product. On the other hands¡ achieve to water price that covering final price and value of marginal product have negative impact on income and profit of farmer and reduction of employment in the region although this policies has positive effect on water consumption management especially in higher prices. Also¡ the results showed that current water price cannot remove the negative balance of water¡ while determination the water price equal to the cost of water supply and value of marginal product can remove this problem respectively after 3 and 6 years. According to results¡ the effects of water pricing policies has suggested as the complementary policies to support of farmers.